Kingdom of the Mountain

The Kingdom of the Mountain, also called The Golgen Empire by modern chroniclers, was likely the first empire in all of Talamh. Established around the year 580, it was believed that the first High King of the Mountain, Nordlieften, had a kingdom that extended from modern Larian to the shores of Weawich. It was believed to have collapsed in the 13th century, with the King and his subjects in the mountains suddenly disappearing mysteriously, and leaving the other Dwarven kingdoms across the land to fill in the vaccuum.

History

Background

For about 400 years after creation, the dwarves lived within the caverns of Eiren, afraid of the outside world besides the need to farm. After the 400 years, however, it was believed the first Navi (the dwarven word for "prophet"), named Odin, was given a vision by the goddess Vanu-Am. She told Odin that the time of hiding was over, and if the dwarves were to be redeemed after their fall from grace, they would have to appreciate Boldur's creation again. Odin thus formed a Great Exodus out from the caves in the lands of Urshlon.
Many of the tribes quickly spread and moved across Eiren, coming into conflict with the elves of Gaelitia who were escaping after the death of King Luhmendel. The Dwarves split into two types of lifestyles: the dwarves who dwelled hills of Larian and dunes of Bolderun, and then the dwarves who began to dwell in the mountainous regions of Northern Lisanricia.

Founding

Sometime in the 6th century, the Mountain Dwarves gained a new Navi: Nordlieften, a mighty dwarf who was blessed by Vanu-Am. He was inspired to head into the Dragonscale Mountains, to reach the highest point, for the dwarves believed they would need to reach the heavens to commune with the god Boldur. Nordlieften led his people into the perilous journey of the dragonscale mountains.
In the mountains, the dwarves were imperiled by Tulok the Two-Headed, a white dragon with two heads that harassed them. To deal with the terrible serpent, Vanu-Am gifted Nordlieften the Dragonhelm, and let him wield the sword Fatebender for a time. He slew the dragon in a mighty blow with Fatebender, and then settled in the mountains with his people. From there, the dwarves discovered the greatest veins of gold they had ever seen. Nordlieften's kingdom was established in the great mines of Golgen in the year 580, and many began to fear his might.

Dwarf king by RADIXAL.STUDIO

Nordlieften the Great, the first King of the Mountain, renowned for his treasure, might, and wisdom that made many of the other dwarf kings bow in fealty to him. Many scholars believe his rule was a golden age for the dwarves.

Using his vast wealth, he built a temple to Vanu-Am, called Duran-Vanu, near his palace (completed in 640). He funded a great military that spread his might across the land, even giving the Elves of Gaelitia a hard time. In 600, Nordlieften was proclaimed High King of the Mountain, with the dwarf kingdoms of Halfia and Urshlon paying tribute to him. In 670, the Palace of Duran-Golgen was finished in his honor, and he ruled from there, great in power and authority. Though Nordlieften would die in 680, his legacy would live on through his sons, and the empire only continued to grow.

Kings of the Mountain

Though the title was officially "High King of the Mountain", the ruler of Duran-Golgen was more realistically an Emperor in power. Nordlieften was followed by his son Bjarke. The flow of gold and silver from the mountain was bountiful, leaving to the dwarves creating the city of Silver Town to control the vast amounts of wealth the dwarves were building in this empire. Over the 8th century, the Dwarven kingdoms of Larian and Icen also fell to the fealty of the Mountain King. There were skirmishes from the elves, but eventually peace was brokered when Colmkel, the Elven King of the Gaels, presented Bjarke with the Mirror Shield that was used to slay the lich Tilrok. It was placed in the king's treasury at Duran-Vanu.
Yet in the days of the 10th century, the world began to change. The hill dwarves in Bolderun had built a great city called Babash, where the king, Lisanrik, proclaimed himself greatest of the Dwarves. The Mountain King and the King of Babash clashed when the century began. Lisanrik conquered Urshlon and the holdings north of it, and the Mountain King suffered a great defeat at his hands. Lisanrik called his new kingdom "Lisanricia", though he would be destroyed by the Grey Dwarves of Mt. Magus by 930. Lisanricia then split into two kingdoms: Urshlon and Lisanricia, while the throne of Babash is left empty. The Mountain King failed to take hold of Lisanricia and Urshlon again, and thus remained content in controlling his western lands.

Downfall

Things, however, changed by the 11th century. The next navi, named Melekh-Navi, became the new Emperor of Bolderun, challenging the Mountain King and warring with him for the holdings of Halfia and Larian. Their fighting came to a standstill however when they learned of the arrival of a new peoples on the continent: humans. In only a few generations, the human tribes, calling themselves the "Sons of Keller", spread throughout the continent, and established Keller's Coast as their first great city under the fealty of Melekh-Navi. The humans grew more cities, such as Anfeld and Brymoor.
Yet the Mountain King remained adamant that no humans would come into his borders. The Mountain King, fearing for the safety of his kingdom, began to abuse the gift of the Bifrost from Vanu-Am. In 1220, he ordered it analyzed and to be used as a weapon, to transport them across the empire and reconquer their old holdings. The dwarves built a great machine to utilize the power of the Bifrost, but when it was activated, the Mountain King and his subjects suddenly disappeared, wiped completely from the face of Talamh.
The Kingdom of the Mountain collapsed immediately, with no flow of gold coming from it, the Empire of Bolderun only grew larger and unopposed. The holdings were filled in quickly by successor states (such as the Kingdom of Lisanricia and the Kingdom of Norda-Larian). The Mountain Kingdom fell into obscurity, many eventually believing it was mere legend.

Legacy

Ultimately, Bolderun would lose it's power over the race of men, and quickly what was once held by the Mountain King became settlements for humans. Most notable were the Kingdoms of Icenglav, Danen, Gotha, and the great Kingdom of Keller. Yet in the 5th millenium that the legacy of the Mountain King would be filled in by the peoples of Lisanricia, the dwarves of the Golden City, as well as the human kingdoms of united Albion.

Our Wealth Flows from the Mountains

580 - 1220

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Alternative Names

Golgen

Demonym

Golgens

Related Species

• Dwarf